Carolyn Delzoppo
About Carolyn
Carolyn Delzoppo is an internationally acclaimed artist working in the ancient and illustrious technique of cloisonné enamel on precious metal. Her original and distinctive jewellery and framed miniatures are inspired by observations of plant forms and seasonal change in her garden. She is interested in issues such as food plant diversity, heritage seeds, genetic modification of plants and also in the balance and interaction of life forms.
Carolyn's Work
Recent works illustrate the visual pleasures of the garden, of plant and floral forms, of the wet season rain on foliage and the abundant lushness of plant growth during that time. The brooches are wearable miniature art works, each one individual and unique, while the framed miniatures offer a visual feast with stunning explosions of colour.
The technique of cloisonné enamel can be recognised by the characteristic fine lines of silver embedded in the enamel. Traditionally the cloisonné lines were used to keep the enamel colours separated during firings, however Carolyn uses the line as a dynamic element of her work, retaining the energy of her pencil line drawings and allowing the colours to flow across and around the fine silver details.
Cloisonne enamel requires painstaking attention to detail and exacting skills to achieve the clarity of colour and detail in the line work. The jewel-like colours and liquid-like vitreous surface are seductively mysterious and richly beautiful.
Enamelling is a process of fusing specially formulated coloured glass to metal by means of heat. The ground glass is applied in thin layers, each layer being fired at around 820 degrees before proceeding with the next. Five or six firings are required to obtain the subtlety of gradation of colour and tone in the designs. After the piece is filled the surface is then ground until smooth and then fired for the last time to obtain a glossy vitreous finish.
Carolyn Delzoppo has been an enameller and jeweller for almost 30 years. She has won several major awards for her work in Japan, US, Spain and in Australia. She has held numerous solo exhibitions and takes part regularly in exhibitions around the world. Her work is represented in major public and private collections.
